Method and apparatus for producing suspensions



Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,669

F. J. E. CHINA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SUSPENSIONS Original Filed Dec. 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR. REDH K 715.6. H f/VA ATTORNEYS Nov. 6, 1928. Y 1,690,669

F. J. E. CHINA METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SUSPENSIONS Original Filed Dec. 10, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1N VENTOR.

Patented Nov. 6,1928.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK JOHN EDWIN CHINA, orEsnnn, ENGLAND.

' METHOl) AND arraimrus roa PRODUCING SUSPENSIONS.

Original application filed December 10, 1923, Serial No 679,748, and in Great Britain March 8, 1 922.

' Divided and this applicationfiled February 25, 1928. Serial No. 257,079.

My invention relates to improvements in method and apparatus for producing s'uspensions, and more particularly to mills for that purpose and is a division of my. application 5 Serial No. 679,748, filed December 10, 1923. The present application also embodies in part my British applications, 8,284/24, both filedon the 6th day of June, 1923. 1

An object of my invention is to utilize to the maximum the disruptive forces existing within a thin film of liquid in which the par-.

ticles are suspended, such film existing between closely adjacent surfaces relatively movable past each other at high velocity, whereby the suspended'particles are disintegrated.

Another object of my'invention is to provide a means whereby the rate of flow of material through the mill is automatically retarded sothat the centrifugal forces exerted by the rotor on the material treated is completely neutralized, the rotor exerting no feeding effect upon the material, and the rate of feed controlled entirely bypumps or valves on the input or the output pipes or both.

A further object of my invention is to increase the efficiency with which the forces act, whereby a larger output may be obtained with a relatively small increase in power.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the rate of flow of the film containing the particles to be Lil be accelerated and retarded so as to decrease or increase the time during which the disruptive forces act upon the particles in the film and thus decreasing cavitation effects and increasing the capacity and efficiency of the mill.

' With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising 'my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

, In order to make my invention more clear ly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting Nos. 14,864/23 and acted upon between the moving surfaces may the improvements in their useful applicamade the subject of illustration.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my mill with pumps provided for regulating the ppessure to the input and output sides there- 0 Fig.4 is a cross sectional view of the detail of the bearing support taken on the line H of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows -Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the system Fig. 5 shows a modified form of stator which provides means for retarding the flow of liquid between the rotor and stator surfaces.

Fig. 6 shows another modification of rotor and stator wherein the rotor carries the retardation means.

' My invention comprises passing a thin film of liquid with the suspended particles of liquid or solid therein, between surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity. fThe relative velocities of the surfaces and their distance apart, as well as -the time of the operation and temperature at which it is carried out, determine the amount of disruptive force to which the particles are subjected. Generally speaking, the greater the speed, the greater the disruptiveforces, and the more closely adjacent the surfaces; the greater the disruptive forces.

It is necessary that the liquid, with the suspended particles therein, be retarded in its passage between the relatively movable surfaces, and it has been found that the efiieieney of action of the mill is greatly influenced by the amount of retardation secured. Within certain limits, the greater the retardation, the

classes of material to be treated. Hence the to be bolted to a suitable support 1, by means Y of a series of bolts 2. The casting 1 is formed with a lower annular flange 3, and an upper annular flange 4 through which the bolts 2 that hold the device in place pass. Formed within the casting 1 is a fluid containing chamber 5, having an inlet pipe 6 and an outlet pipe 7 leading into the chamber and adapted to discharge at a point near its top. The

purpose of the inlet and outlet pipes is to allow either heating or cooling fluid, such as steam or cooling brine, to be circulated in the chamber 5 to either raise or lower the temperature at which the operation takes place, if such regulation is found desirable.-

Formed within the bottom portion of the casting 1 is an input duct 8, through which the liquid containing the particles to be disintegrated is introduced into the machine. Leading into the input duct 8 is an input pipe 8', which may connect with an input pump 8" for regulating the pressure and speed at which the liquid with the suspended particles to be disintegrated is introduced into my mill. Formed in the upper portion of the casing 1 i is a smooth frust'o-conical working surface 9,

and between the working surface 9 and the input duct 8 is comprised a conical input chamber 11.

Mounted on the casting 1. is a cover plate 12, which forms with the casting 1 an output chamber 13, from which an output duct 14 leads. .A suitable valve 15 is provided for regulating the speed and amount of material allowed to pass through the output duct 14. Thus the time during which the material is acted upon can be regulated.

To further regulate the amount of pressure in the output chamber. and hence the speed of output, and the time during which the liquid with the suspended particles is acted upon by the forces in the film, I have shown the valve 15 as connected with a pipe 15 which leads to a pump 15". The pump 15" may be used to reduce the pressure in the output chamber and accelerate the flow of material. to be treated through the mill. It is apparent that the pumps 8 and 15 and the valve 15 afford a ready means for varying and controlling the speed at which the liquid passes through the mill and the amount of retardation desired for any particular material.

The casting 1 is formed with an annular shoulder 16 at its top, and the cover plate 12 is provided with an annular groove 17 in which the shoulder 16 of the casting 1 fits.

Between the groove 17 and the shoulder 16 I,

nular flange 19, which overlies the annular flange 4 of the casting 1; the bolts 2 which hold the casting 1 to the support pass through the flange 19, as well as the flanges 3 and 4 of the casting 1, and hold the cover plate firmly in place. For purposes of carefully adjusting the relative position of the cover plate 12 to the casting 1, I have provided a series of wedges 21, one of which is shown in Figure 1. The wedges are adapted to lie between the bolts 2, and in practice I have found that three wedges will enable good adjustment to be made. Bymeans of these wedges, a careful adjustment of the relative position of the cover plate 12 to the casting 1 may be made, in order to properly center the working parts.

Mounted on the top of the casting 1 is a supporting structure 22. The supporting structure 22 is provided with a flange 23 at its lower end, which is adapted to lie in contact with the top of the cover plate 12. .The inner periphery of the flange 23 of the support piece is adapted to abut against an annular shoulder 24 formed on the cover plate 12. A series of holding bolts 25 hold the support member 22 in position. The support member 22 has, preferably integrally formed therewith, upwardly extending support spiders 26, which terminate at their upper extremity in a rin member 27; the interior surface of the ring member being screwthreaded, as indicated at 28.

A bearing support piece 29 is provided, on its downwardly extending annular portion 31, with screw-threads 32, which are adapted to engage with the screw-threads 28 of the ring member 27, ermitting the bearing support 29 to be ad ustable. A lock nut 33 is provided to lock the bearing support 29 in any adjusted position, and a pointer 34, attached to the supporting structure 22, is provided to cooperate with a scale on the periphery of the bearing support 29 and indicate the adjustment.

My mill is provided with a conical rotor 35 having a smooth frusto-conical working surface 36 adapted to lie adjacent the smooth frusto-conical working surface 9 of the casting 1 and equi-distantly spaced therefrom.

The rotor 35 is mounted on a shaft 37 and held securely on the shaft by means of a nut 38. On the upper end of the shaft 37 are screw-threads 39 upon which are adapted to be screwed locking nuts 41. Belowthe'screwthreads 39. the shaft 37 has a slightly en ing support 29 is provided with a downwardly extendin annular shoulder 49, having annularpac ing glands 51 therein, in which is packed suitable packin to prevent leakage of lubricant from the earing.- A 'ournal box cover 52 is bolted by means of olts 53 to the bearing support 29. The journal box cover 52 has a downwardly projecting annular lip 54, and the upper outer ball 1 race 44 is firmly held between the annular lip 54 and the shoulder 49 formed on the bearing support member 29. i

The bearing structure, comprising the inner and outer upper bearing races and the balls, operates as a thrust andradial bearing. The bearing will withstand thrust in either direction. Iprefer to use the type commercially known as the Skefko bearing, which is made in Sweden, as this type of bearing will stand thrust and at the same time can be operated at exceedingly high speed without overheating or play.

On the portion 47 of the shaft 37 is a drive pulley 55, which is keyed to the shaft, and against which the lower end of the collar 48 rests. The cover plate 12 is provided with an annular recess 56, within which is mounted the lower bearing and packing structure, which I will now describe. Mounted on the portion 47 of the shaft extending below the pulley 55 is a collar 57 whose upper end-is adapted to engage the lower end of the pulley 55. The collar is mounted within a. packing gland comprising a plate 58 which lies over the upper end of the annular recess 56, and is bolted by means of bolts 59 to the upper side of the cover plate 12. The plate 58 is provided with two annula-r recesses 61 on its inner periphery within which is placed a suitable packing to form a tight packing joint around the collar 57.

Mounted below the collar 57 on an enlarged port-ion 62 of the shaft 37 is an inner ball race 63, whose lower end rests against the shoulder formed between the portion 62 of the shaft, and an enlarged lower portion of the shaft 64. The upper portion of the inner ball race 63 is in contact with the lower portion of the collar 57 Arranged to slidably fit Within the walls of the annular recess 56 is an outer ball race 65. i

To prevent leakage of lubricant through the, lower opening of the annular recess 56, through which the portion 64 of the shaft 37 passes, I have formed the annular recess 56 with an inwardly projecting annular shoulder 67. Below the shoulder 67, the in-L ner walls of the recess 56 are inwardly tapered at 68 adjacent the point at which the portion 64 of the shaft 37 passes through the lower part of the cover plate v Fitting around the portion 64 of the shaft is apacking plate 69 having a shoulder 71,

lyingiabqvetheshoulder 67 of the cover plate cover plate, I have inserted packing material 73 to prevent leakage of lubricant.

To hold the packing plate 69 pressed against the packing 73, I have formed an annular groove 7 4 in the wall of the recess 56. Within this groove I mount a split ring 75, whose elasticity when sprung into position keeps the packing plate 69 pressing against the packing 73. The packing gland 1 thus formed is adapted to ordinarily withstand a pressure of about twenty-five pounds without leakage. This packing gland near the lower portion of the cover plate, not only serves to prevent lubricant from leaking out of the lower bearing structure, but at the same time provides means for preventing liquid within the output chamber 13 of the mill lock nut 33, on the threaded portion 31 of the bearing support 29, and rotating the'bearing support 29 until the exact adjustment is obtained. The working surfaces are held equidistantly and fiziedly spaced when the lock nut 33 1s screwed in'place. The pointer 34 enables the person performing the adjustment to. accurately tell the degree of rotation imparted to the bearing support 29. As before stated, the bearing support 29 is preferably formed with a scale on its outer periphery for cooperation with the pointer 34. to enable an accurate adjustment to be obtained.

The whole upper bearing structure is either raised or lowered by rotating the bearing support 29. The outer upper ball race 44 is moved with a bearing support, and through the balls 45, carries the inner ball race 43 with it. The inner ball race is held against 1ongitudinal displacement on the shaft by the collar 49 whose lower end abuts the fixed pulley 55, and by the lock nuts 41. By reason of the fact that the lower inner ball race 63 is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft by the collar 57 and the shoulder formed at the upper extremity of the portion "64' of the shaft, the lower inner ball race 63 raised or lowered, the lower bearing moves with it.

One of the support spiders 26 is made of less arcuate breadth than the other support spiders to permit a belt to pass readily over the pulley 55. A suitable source of power moves the belt, which imparts rotation to the pulley 55 to cause the rotor to rot-ate. The screw-threads which are formed on the upper bearing support 29 are in ,such a direction, that the normal direction of rotation of the belt will cause the upper bearing support 29 to unscrew in case the lock nut 33 is not tightly adjusted to prevent such an occurrence.

This gives an added factor of safety, for

. should the proper tightening of the lock nut 33 not be effected, the normal operation of .the machine will tend to continually increase the distance between the smooth conicaI working surfaces, thus preventing injury to the machine.

I have found that in disintegratingv particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid, that the clearance between the working surfaces should ordinarily be approximately from two-thousandths of an inch to twentythousandths of an inch. I,

The peripheral speed of the rotor may vary from approximately 150 feet a second to 600 feet a second, depending upon the operating conditions.

In operation, the particles to be disintegrated are suspended in a suitable liquid medium, such as" water. The particles to be disintegrated may be either liquid or solid particles.

The liquid, with the suspended particles therein, is introduced through the input duct 8 and passes into the input chamber 11. The rotor is moving at a high rate of speed, and the liquid withthe suspended particles is sucked in between the working surfaces and ejected into the output chamber. During the brief time that the liquid with the suspended particlestakes in passing from the input chamher, through the film and into the output chamber, the particles have been disrupted and will be found to be of much smaller diame er.

It is thus apparent that the centrifugal force under ordinary circumstances plays an important factor in regulating the time during which the particles are subjected to the disruptive forces existing within the film, as Well as the magnitude of such forces. It has also been found that the time during which the particles are subjected to the disruptive forces within the film largely determines the effectiveness of action of the mill and it is therefore highly desirable to oppose to the centrifugal forces acting on the film counterforces which will, to a greater or less extent, neutralize the effect of the centrifugal forces and retard the ejection of the liquid film from the mill.

means of introduction of cooling or heating fluid into the chamber 5. The regulation of inlet and outlet pressure, the rate of flow, and the temperature at which the operation should be carried on for maximum results, may be experimentally determined for any particular operation.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of my mill in which the stator is provided with an annular lip closely adjacent to and surrounding the outlet edge of the rotor. In Fig. 5, annular lip 248 is attached to the stator 241 and is slightly offset at its portion 249 adjacent the outer upper edge of theworking surface 242 of the stator. Its inner portion 251 lies parallel to, and slightly spaced from the upper surface of the rotor 246. This annular lip operates to retardthe passage of the film between the confines of the working surfaces of the rotor and stator, and tends to retain the particles, and the film in which they are suspended, between the working surfaces and thus increase the time during which the disruptive forces in the film act on the particles therein.

In Fig. 6, I have shown another modification of my mill wherein the rotor instead of the stator is provided with an annular lip which is closely adjacent to and surrounds the outlet edge of the stator. In Fig. 10 the rotor 267 is formed with a conically thickened projecting portion 268 which is adapted to lie for its length in close proximity to the upper surface of the stator-261. The rotor 267 is provided with a flange 269 which extends downwardly and obliquely, terminating in an outwardly extending horizontal, annular flange 271. Suitably attached to the flange 271 is an annular retarding member 273 which extendshorizontally towards the axis of r0- tation of the rotor, and is adapted to impede the progress of the film between the working surfaces of the rotor and stator. The inner surface of the retarding member 273 fits parallel and closely adj aceut but does not touch the shoulder 265 of the stator 26 1.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the retarding members shown in Figs. 5 and 6 can be employed with or without the use of the pumps 8 and 15 and facilitate control of feed .of material, especially in case where a slow rate. of treatment is necessary, it is desirable to so proportion the retardation members, such as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, so as to just neutralize the centrifugal forces of the rotor on the mate- .rial treated. In this way the action of the rotor is neutral to the flow of material, there is no tendency for the rotor to suck the material through the mill and the rate of flow of material is independent of rotor speed. The rate of flow is then made to depend entirely upon pressure applied to the material from a pump or other means on the input pipe line, and the time during which the material is acted upon by the disruptive forces in the film between the rotor and stator surfaces, may be made as long or short as desired. It is obvious that where the centrifugal force of the rotor operates upon the material treated, the rate of flow is either accelerated or retarded with increase or decrease of rotor speed depending upon whether the centrifugal force acts in line with or in opposition to, the direction of flow. Only by a complete neutralization of'centrifugal force can time of processing material be made independent of rotor speed. This is an important ad- Vance in the art notpossible heretofore. It permits greater flexibility and closer control of operating conditions and adds materially to the efficiency of the mill.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations can be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a li uid comprising, subjecting a very thin film o the liquid with the suspended particles therein to the action of closely adjacent fixedly spaced smooth surfaces relatively movable one past the other at highvelocity, and applying pressure to the liquid thatds leaving the film in a direction opposite the direction of flow of the liquid, the partioles being disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film itself, which increase with the increase of the relative. velocities of the moving surfaces, and decrease with the increase in the thickness of the film.

2. A method of disintegrating particles suspended. in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid with the susended particles therein to the action of close y adjacent fixedly spaced smooth surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity,

and reducing the pressure on the liquid that is leaving the film, the particles being disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film itself, which increase with the increase of the relative velocities of the moving surfaces, and decrease with the increase in the thickness of the film.

3. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting l.- A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid to the action of closely adjacent non-contacting fixedly spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, retarding slightly by back pressure the ejection of the film from its confines While on said surfaces to increase internal friction in the film.

5. A method; of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid to theaction of closely adjacent non-contacting fixedly spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at highvelocity retarding slightly" by counter pressure the e ectionof the film from its confines while on said surfaces to increase the internal friction in the film.

, 6. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, byreason of the disruptive forces in a film of liquid comp-rising, members having closely and fixedly spaced working surfaces, means for moving said surfaces one past the other at high velocity, and

impeding means adjacent the discharge periphery of the working surfaces preventing the free flow of the liquid from between said working surfaces.

7 An apparatus for disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid by reason of the disruptive forces within the film comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frusto-conical working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frusto-conical working surface closely adjacent to and equi-distantly spaced from the first mentioned surface, but having no points of contact therewith, means for keepingsaid workin surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing the rotatable member to rotate with respect to the fixed member, and a retarding member adjacent the output side of the working surface. q

8. An apparatus for disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid by reason of the disruptive forces within the film comprising,

a fixed member having a smooth frusto-conical working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frusto-conical working surface closely ad'acent to and equi-distantly spaced from the first mentioned surface, but having no points of contact therewith, means for keeping said working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing the rotatable member to rotate with respect to the fixed member, and a retarding member carried by the fixed memher and lying adjacent the output sideof the working surfaces.

9. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frusto-conica-l working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frusto-conical working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface and enclosing said first mentioned surface, retarding means adjacent the output end of the working surfaces, a shaft upon which the rotatable member is mounted, means cooperating with the shaft to. take thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, meansfor rotating the shaft, and means for introducing liquid 7 member adjacent the output end of the working surfaces, a shaft upon which the rotatable member is mounted, means co-operating with the shaft for taking thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for rotating the shaft, and means for introducing liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are distintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

11. A method of disintegrating particles' suspended in a liquid comprising, the subjection of a very thin film of the liquid with the suspended particles therein to the action of closely adjacent fixedly spaced emulsifying and retarding surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, applying pressure to the liquid entering the film and additionally retarding by back pressure the ejection of the film to increase internal friction in the film, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film itself. j

12. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, the subjectiongo-f -a very thinfilm of the liquid with the suspended'particles therein to the action of closelyfadjacent fixedly spaced emulsifying and retarding surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, applying pressure to the liquid entering the film and additionally impeding the ejection of the film by a resisting pressure, the particles being disintegrated by the disruptive forces thus created within the film itself.

13. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, the subjection of a very thin film of the liquid .with the suspended particles therein to the action of closely adjacent fixedly spaced emulsifying and resisting surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, applying pressure to the liquid entering the film and additionally reducing the speed of ejection of the film by counterpressure whereby the particles are retained between the working surfaces for a longer time than when normal flow of the film is permitted, and; the disruptive forces Within the film are thereby increased.

14. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, the subjection of a very thin film of the liquid with the suspended particles therein to the action of closely adjacent fixedly spaced emulsifying and resisting surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, applying pressure to the liquid entering the film-and partially obstructing the normal flow of the film between the moving surfaces by a resisting counterforce so as to increase the action of the disruptive forces within the film itself.

15. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, the subjectionof a very thin film of the liquid with the suspended particles therein to the action of closely adjacent fixedly spaced emulsify ing and resisting surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, applying pressure to the liquid entering the film'and additionally resisting the normal flow of the film between the moving surfaces by a back pressure whereby the particles in their passage through the film are further disintegrated by the increased disruptive forces thus created within the film.

16. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in aliquid comprising, the subjection of a very thin film of the liquid with the suspended particles therein to the action of closely adjacent fixedly spaced emulsifying and retarding surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, applying pressure to the liquid entering the film and vadditionally impeding the velocity of ejection of the film by a counter pressure, the particles being disintegrated by the disruptive forces within the film, said disintegration increasing with the increase of said counter ress'ure by reason of the increased time during which said uptive forces act on the particles within the 17. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, by the disruptlve forces in a film of liquid, comprising members hav- A and retarding working surfaces, means for moving said surfaces one pastLthe other at high velocity and means including a counter pressure for additionally impeding the free flow of'th'e liquid between said working surfaces, thereby increasing the action of the disruptive forces on the particles within the film 19. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, by the disruptive forces in a film of liquid, comprising members having relatively smooth closely and fixedly spaced emulsifying and retardingworking surfaces, means for moving said surfaces one past the other at high velocity and means for additionally... restricting the ejection of the fii m from between the working surfaces to increasethe action of the disruptive forces on the articles within the film. p

20. method of disintegrating particles, suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid .to the action of closely adjacent non-contacting surfaces relatively movable, one past the other at high velocit and neutralizing the centrifugal action 0 the moving surface on the film.

21. A method of disintegrating particles, suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid to the action ofclosely adjacent non-contacting surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity and retarding the flow of the liquid between said surfaces so as to just neutralize the centrifugal action of the moving surface Lon the film. a

22. A method of disintegrating particles,

suspended in a li uid comprising, subjecting a ver thin film o the liquid to theaction'of close y ad acent.non-contacting surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity neutralizing the centrifugal actionof the moving surface on the film and applying pressure to the liquid entering the film to force it to flow between said surfaces and trolling the time of action of said surfaces on said film by pressure applied to the liquid entering th film.

24. An ap aratus for disintegrating particles suspen ed in a liquid by the disruptive forces in a film ofthe liquid, comprising members having closely and fixed spaced relatively smooth working surfaces, means for moving said surfaces one past the other at high velocity and means for neutralizing the centrifugal action of the moving surface on the film.

J 25. An apparatus for disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid'by the disruptive forces in a film of the liquid, comprising members having closely and fixed spaced working surfaces, means for moving said surfaces one past the other at high velocity and means for retarding the flow of the liquid between said working surfaces so as to just neutralize the centrifugal effect of the moving surface on the film.

26. An ap aratus for disintegrating particles suspen ed in a liquid by the disruptive forces in a film of the liquid, comprising members having closely' and fixed spaced working surfaces, means for moving said surfaces one past the other at high velocity,

' means for neutralizing the centrifugal action of the moving surface on the film, and means the film to force it to flow between said working surfaces and control the rate of flow of sald liquid. i v

27. An' apparatus for disintegrating particles suspended ina liquid by the disruptive forces in a film of the liquid, comprlsin members having closely and fixed space working surfaces, means for moving said surfacesonepast the other at high velocity, means for neutralizing the centrifugal action of the moving surface on the film and means for controlling the time of action of said working surfaces on said film by applying pressure to the liquid entering the film.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK JOHN EDWIN CHINA.

. for applying pressure tothe liquid entering 

